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To help deliver more good homes for people, the Province is introducing new laws to build the homes people need, make it possible for homes that are vacant to be rented\u00a0and remove discriminatory age and rental restrictions in stratas that hurt young families.<\/p>\n
\u201cB.C.\u2019s housing crisis is stressing out and hurting people\u00a0while it holds\u00a0back our economy,\u201d said Premier David Eby. \u201cAs a first step in my 100-day plan, we are making changes to deliver more homes for British Columbians, faster. We will work with municipalities to set housing targets and make sure the homes\u00a0people need get\u00a0built. For those searching for a home today, there’s good news. We’re making it possible for thousands of condos that are vacant to be rented out as soon as these new laws pass. For those worried about the future, we’re setting out a new way to co-ordinate the efforts of our cities and the Province to build the homes people need quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first piece of legislation, the housing supply act, will help speed up housing development and increase supply by giving the Province the power to set housing targets in municipalities with the greatest need and highest projected growth. Targets will be based on information provided by and in consultation with municipalities. The new housing targets will encourage municipalities to address local barriers to construction so that housing can get built faster, including updating zoning bylaws and streamlining local development approval processes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a good job lined up and even I had a hard time finding a home,\u201d said Omama Shoib, a health-care worker who moved from Alberta to Victoria.\u00a0\u201cWe need more housing options across the board urgently. Some people aren\u2019t as lucky as I was and have to turn down job opportunities or schooling because they can\u2019t find suitable housing. I\u2019m relieved the government is doing more to increase housing\u00a0so people don\u2019t have to give up on pursuing their goals just because they can\u2019t find a place to live.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Province will monitor progress and work with municipalities to help address barriers to meeting housing targets and to support the increased community needs associated with targeted growth. The act enables compliance options as a last resort, should municipalities with the highest need struggle to create the conditions that are necessary to ensure housing gets\u00a0built.<\/p>\n
If passed, the housing supply act is scheduled to be brought into force in mid-2023. To support implementation, the Province will continue to help local governments speed up local approval processes through the continued implementation of the Development Approvals Process Review and work underway to accelerate provincial approvals.<\/p>\n
In addition, the Province is making amendments to the Strata Property Act to end all strata rental-restriction bylaws and to limit age-restriction bylaws so that the only permitted age restrictrion\u00a0is to preserve and promote serniors’ housing through the \u201c55 and over\u201d\u00a0rule in strata housing. Some buildings have \u201c19+ only\u201d\u00a0age restrictions that mean couples starting a family have to plan to move out as soon as they become pregnant. Stratas will be able to appear at the Residential Tenancy Branch to evict problem tenants and recover costs of those appearances.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of things on your mind when you are getting ready to start a family.\u00a0It can be a very stressful time,\u201d said Sarah Arnold, an expectant mother and condo owner in Victoria. \u201cThe last thing you need to think about when you\u2019re preparing to welcome a newborn is finding a new place to live. These unjust age restrictions have hurt a lot of families, and I am pleased to see the Province is taking action to make sure no more couples have to uproot their lives and leave their homes if they decide to start a family.\u201d<\/p>\n
In areas where government has\u00a0data through\u00a0the Speculation and Vacancy Tax, there are approximately 2,900 empty condos that cannot be rented out because strata rules prevent\u00a0them from renting out their condo, and\u00a0government expects there are more empty units in strata buildings in other parts of the province. This amendment will enable owners to rent out these badly needed homes immediately. Government also expects that some owners in strata buildings would choose to rent out a room in their condo if they were given the opportunity to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cRules that prevent families with children from living in a home\u00a0or prevent people from renting the unit they own are no longer acceptable in our current housing market,\u201d said Murray Rankin, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing. \u201cThese amendments will open up more rental and homeownership options for people at a time when they\u2019re needed the most.\u201d<\/p>\n
If approved, the changes to the Strata Property Act would take effect immediately. Bylaws restricting short-term rentals, such as AirBnBs, will continue to be allowed.<\/p>\n
These actions are new\u00a0steps to deliver homes in B.C., building on B.C.\u2019s 10-year, $7-billion Homes for B.C. plan.<\/p>\n
Learn More:<\/strong><\/p>\n A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is available online:\u00a0https:\/\/www.bchousing.org\/homes-for-BC<\/a><\/p>\n